CLEVELAND — The good folks of Cleveland can’t help themselves, always hoping for the best, but bracing themselves for the worst.
They have suffered 55 years with the Browns. The Indians have been to the World Series three times since 1995, even twice going to seven games, but empty-handed since 1948. Stars come and go, but never stay.
Well, leave it to this proud city to bring back memories of good old-fashioned baseball, celebrating the beauty and essence of the sport, in a truly wonderful All-Star experience.
The American League, with Indians starter Shane Bieber named the MVP, won the game 4-3, but it will be forever remembered as a pure wholesome game with no frills or gimmicks, filled with drama that reminded us why we fell in love with the game in the first place.
There were real, authentic, sustained rallies in the game. Yankees second baseman D.J. LeMahieu provided us the first All-Star bunt by a position player in a nine-inning game since Ozzie Guillen in 1991. We had a double steal by Paul DeJong and Pete Alonso of the National League in the eighth inning. We had two double plays and not a single error.
And, yes, only two home runs, albeit 23 strikeouts, including 16 by the AL staff.
The purity of the game will eventually fade in time, but the plethora of emotional moments will forever be remembered.
Fans are ready for the All-Star Game in Cleveland. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)
Los Angeles Angels All-Stars Mike Trout and Tommy LaStella wore No. 45 in honor of their late teammate, Tyler Skaggs, with every player wearing patches, including a moment of silence before the game.
“I felt him out there with me,’’ said Trout. “In order to represent him, what he meant to us in a stage like this, it’s unbelievable.
“He always wanted to be an All-Star, and tonight he was.’’
There was the Stand Up to Cancer tribute in the fifth inning, and out came Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco, who was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia. He stood in the third-base coach’s box, flanked by four All-Star teammates and manager Terry Francona, with Carrasco holding a sign that read: ‘I stand.’’
The rest held up a sign with his nickname: “Cookie.’’
“It was a message to let him know we stand up for you, we all stand next to you,’’ Cleveland All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “We all next to you. We are all right there for you. We all believe in you.
“We believe he’s going to kick cancer’s butt, and he’ll be fine.’’
There was Houston Astros All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, who spent the first 11 years of his career, getting a thunderous pre-game ovation and driving in the game’s first run with a double, and fans chanting his name when he took the field.
“I had tingles up and down my spine,’’ said Brantley, “trying to embrace the moment. The welcome-back was very much appreciated.’’
There was CC Sabathia, who spent the first 10 years of his career in Cleveland and being an ambassador for the All-Star Game, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to former Indians All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar, and then visiting the mound with two outs in the ninth, allowing the sellout crowd of 36,747 to cheer him one last time.
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“This place will always be special, a place where I grew up,’’ said Sabathia, who gave a pre-game speech to the AL All-Star team, one that he called “terrible.’’ “I came here 17 years old as a boy, and left here 27 years old with three kids and a grown man. It will always be a special place for me.
“The one regret in my career is not winning a championship here.’’
There was the opening tribute to late Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the first African-American manager in baseball history in 1975 with the Cleveland Indians.
And there was Bieber, who was added to the All-Star Game just four days ago, and pitching in the minors 13 months ago, only to become only the third player in All-Star history to win the MVP in his own ballpark.
“I didn’t really know what to think,’’ Bieber said. “Kind of lost all feeling in my body.’’
It was that kind of weekend, with the city of Cleveland celebrating its rich baseball heritage, paying homage to every All-Star, well, with the exception of those Chicago Cubs and a certain New York Yankee.
Yeah, Cleveland hasn’t forgotten losing that painful Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
Well, they weren’t exactly cheering Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman when he struck out the side in the ninth, vividly remembering him shutting down Cleveland in the ninth inning of Game 7, sending the game into extra innings.
“They were very aware,’’ Lindor said, “what he did against us and beat us in the World Series.’’
This time, when Chapman closed out the game, he carved out another piece of history, preserving Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka’s victory, the first by a Yankee pitcher in an All-Star Game since Vic Raschi in 1948.
It was that kind of wondrous night, and really an ideal All-Star weekend, from the Home Run Derby to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame party to the game.
“I thought the city of Cleveland did a fantastic job,’’ NL manager Dave Roberts said. “The logistics, the city, the weather, the fans [during] the parade, during the game, attentive, cheering for past and present Indians and they were just really engaged.
“So Major League Baseball and the city of Cleveland got it right.’’
Said Bieber “It's such a good, hard, gritty town. I can't say enough about how this All-Star Weekend and week has been run. I was talking to some guys, and they said it's one of the better-run All-Star Games and weekends that they've been to.
“I think that's really special to say about the city of Cleveland.’’
Really, the only blemish throughout the weekend for baseball was Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander’s continued rant on the balls being juiced this year, telling ESPN on Monday that he believed MLB did it intentionally.
He was called to the principal’s office where MLB folks reiterated that the balls were the same, but only the drag on them is less, leaving baseball on pace for a record-setting 6,668 homers.
“Those decisions are above my head,’’ Verlander said. “If they want to truly want to reduce the drag on the ball, or put it back to where it was, then we can work together. I don’t know if they have an oversight committee, but they’d be welcome to hear a lot of my opinions.
“Myself personally, I’m a purist of the game. Whether you like homers, or you like it the way it was, then that’s not necessairly on me. I prefer not small ball, but a different brand of baseball.’’
So, after listening to MLB executives explain the rationale, does Verlander still feel the same way about those baseballs?
“Uh, good question,’’ he said.
No further response needed.
Besides, on a night like this, when the game was played to its purest level, who needs a reminder that the regular season and all of those home runs will soon be resuming to a ballpark near you?
Take a bow, Cleveland.
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